STARKVILLE — Last time Starkville Academy boys soccer and Pillow Academy faced off, it came off the backs of a brutal 8-0 defeat for the Vols on the road.
The Volunteers were trying to find their identity early in the season, and the Mustangs, for better or worse, steamrolled them and sent a statement out, but in early January, the pressure was put back on Pillow.
Despite a 2-0 loss Jan. 9, Starkville Academy defended its home turf well and generated a lot more chances, going on the offensive instead of constantly playing back on defense.
Pillow wasn’t quite ready for that pressure, but found a way to prevail. On Monday, as the MAIS Division II playoffs begin, the Vols are hoping it’s a much different story.
“The first time, they clobbered us,” Starkville Academy head coach Chris Doss said. “The second time, it was a lot closer, so I’m hoping the third time, we can win.
“What I said to the boys is all the pressure is on (Pillow). They’re expected to win, so we can go out and play with a whole lot of freedom.”
Lightning struck twice, but it will be incredibly difficult for lightning to strike three times in the same season, and the Volunteers (9-5-1) have wrapped up their regular season well, proving to be a competitive force in district play.
Starkville Academy won each of its last two home games, including an impressive 8-0 win against Heritage Academy. Its last win of the regular season, a 3-1 victory over Bayou Academy on Monday, was needed to build positive momentum.
“We’ve definitely come a long way since the beginning of the year,” senior Jackson Walters said. “New faces were playing, and they’ve definitely taken huge steps. We haven’t declined at all; we’ve just kept climbing. I thought we looked really good against Bayou on Monday for senior night.
“We played really well as a team, playing aggressive. That’s what it’s going to take to win in the postseason.”
Nothing is a given come playoff time, especially playing a team that has gotten the better of the Vols in both meetings this season.
However, Starkville Academy is playing with house money, and as Doss mentioned, the focus will be on playing loose and playing free.
As was the emphasis in January, being able to not only control the ball and hold onto the ball but to push Pillow back on defense and try to put through balls and crosses into the box will yield the best chances.
“That first matchup, we possessed the ball maybe five minutes the whole game,” Walters said. “The second game, I told the guys to not just look at one game and see how that goes. We have to look forward at how much better we’ve gotten.
“We’ve gotten better since then offensively and attacking, and putting chances away is going to be a big deal along with winning 50/50 balls.”
Walters is one of four seniors on this season’s team, and all of them are ready to get the show on the road in Greenwood next week.
“I’m ready to go,” Walters said. “This is it for me. It’s the last time I’ll get to do this, so it’s time to go. I’m ready to score as many as I can to help the team out.”
Starkville Academy’s first-round MAIS Division II playoff game against the Mustangs kicks off at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Pillow Academy.
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